Thursday, September 6, 2007

Boehner: General Petraeus, Ambassador Crocker Deserve to Be Heard

WASHINGTON, D.C – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement today on the upcoming testimony by General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker and the new report released by the Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, chaired by retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones, on the success of the military surge in Iraq:

“General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker will testify next week on the progress of our troops, and both Republicans and Democrats alike should listen to their conclusions and recommendations with an open mind. It is troubling that Democratic leaders are doing anything and everything they can to dismiss their testimony even before they have the chance to utter a single word before Congress. Republicans have said all year that we will listen to those who have witnessed our successes and setbacks firsthand, and as next week’s testimony approaches, we will await any recommendations, next steps, or adjustments that may be needed in our strategy.

“The report today from General Jones offers Congress valuable insight into the security gains we’re making in Iraq, as well as the challenges that lie ahead. The foremost priority of our troops has been to train, equip, and deploy the Iraqi Army in combat, and General Jones’ report confirms that Iraqi armed forces are becoming increasingly effective and are capable of assuming greater responsibility for the internal security of Iraq. And while the report found that the Iraqi police are making progress, it says we must see more for them to meet their essential security responsibilities. Everyone – the Jones Commission, Republicans, and Democrats alike – expects to see even more progress in Iraq, but it’s clear the foundation for solidifying our security gains has been laid.

“Most importantly, General Jones’ report concludes that ‘the strategic consequences of failure, or even perceived failure, for the United States and the Coalition are enormous,’ and I could not agree more. When Democratic leaders invested their political fortunes in failure in Iraq, they were acutely aware of the risks, and the Jones report underscores the very dire consequences of a precipitous withdrawal and policy options rooted in failure.”